Hemostatic compositions, devices, and methods

ABSTRACT

Compositions that include a clay such as kaolin dispersed in a liquid such as water may be useful for promoting the clotting of blood. The compositions may be in a liquid, gel, paste, foam, or another form. Uses may include treating a traumatic injury such as in injury caused by a bullet, an explosive, a blade etc., or an injury caused during a medical procedure such as surgery.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The disclosed embodiments relate to compositions, devices, and methods related to promoting blood clotting.

2. Description of the Related Art

Blood is a liquid tissue that includes red cells, white cells, corpuscles, and platelets dispersed in a liquid phase. The liquid phase is plasma, which includes acids, lipids, solubilized electrolytes, and proteins. The proteins are suspended in the liquid phase and can be separated out of the liquid phase by any of a variety of methods such as filtration, centrifugation, electrophoresis, and immunochemical techniques. One particular protein suspended in the liquid phase is fibrinogen. When bleeding occurs, the fibrinogen reacts with water and thrombin (an enzyme) to form fibrin, which is insoluble in blood and polymerizes to form clots.

In a wide variety of circumstances, wounds can be inflicted as the result of trauma. Often bleeding is associated with such wounds. In some circumstances, the wound and the bleeding are minor, and normal blood clotting functions in addition to the application of simple first aid are all that is required. First aid may include applying pressure to the wound with a sponge or similar device to facilitate clotting functions. Unfortunately, however, in other circumstances substantial bleeding can occur. Bleeding can also be a problem when the trauma is the result of a surgical procedure. Apart from suturing or stapling an incision or internally bleeding area, bleeding encountered during surgery is often controlled using sponges or other materials used to exert pressure against the bleed site and/or absorb the blood. However, in many circumstances these measures are not sufficient, such as when the bleeding becomes excessive, or when the wound is difficult to reach, or when it is advantageous to be able to view continuously the wound area.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Compositions comprising a clay, or a component of a clay, dispersed in a liquid medium can be useful as hemostatic or blood-clotting compositions or agents. These compositions may be useful for promoting the clotting of blood for animals or human beings, including clotting blood in individuals with a compromised ability to clot blood, such as individuals taking anticoagulant drugs such as heparin, warfarin, clopidogrel, coumarin, etc., or individuals suffering from clotting disorders such as Hemophilia A, Hemophilia B, von Willebrand disease, etc.

Some embodiments include a blood-clotting agent comprising: a composition comprising clay dispersed in a liquid medium, wherein the clay is less than about 10% by weight of the composition; and wherein the composition including the liquid medium and clay has a viscosity of about 1000 cP or less.

Some embodiments include a blood-clotting agent comprising: a composition comprising clay dispersed in a liquid medium, wherein the clay is less than about 10% by weight of the composition; and wherein the composition including the liquid medium and clay has a viscosity of about 1000 cP to about 100,000 cP.

Some embodiments include a hemostatic composition comprising: a clay dispersed in an aqueous medium; wherein the composition is a liquid which is substantially free of visible clay particles; and wherein the composition is sterilized.

Some embodiments comprise a hemostatic composition comprising: kaolin dispersed in an aqueous medium; wherein the composition is flowable; wherein at least 50% of the kaolin has a particle size in the range of about 1 nm to about 1000 nm; and wherein the composition is sterilized.

Some embodiments include a hemostatic device comprising: a vessel which contains a hemostatic composition of the type described herein; and a dispensing component in fluid communication with the vessel; wherein the device is configured so that the dispensing component is capable of dispensing the hemostatic composition from the vessel to a bleeding area of an animal or person.

Some embodiments comprise a hemostatic composition comprising: a liquid comprising a first component of a kaolin, wherein the first component of the kaolin is prepared by a process comprising: dispersing the kaolin in an aqueous medium; and separating the first component of the kaolin from a second component of the kaolin; wherein the first component of the kaolin has an average particle size which is smaller than an average particle size of the second component of kaolin.

Some embodiments include a hemostatic composition comprising: a component of kaolin dispersed in an aqueous medium; wherein the component of kaolin is capable of remaining dispersed in the aqueous medium for at least about 60 minutes without agitation.

Some embodiments include a hemostatic composition comprising: a component of kaolin dispersed in an aqueous medium; wherein the component of kaolin is capable of remaining dispersed in the aqueous medium for at least about 5 minutes in a centrifuge at a centripetal acceleration of at least about 1000 m/s².

Some embodiments include a blood-clotting composition comprising: a fine kaolin having a reduced particle size as compared to a particle size of a naturally and/or commonly occurring kaolin; and water; wherein the fine kaolin is dispersed in the water to form a stable kaolin-water dispersion.

Some embodiments include a hemostatic system comprising: a hemostatic device comprising: a vessel comprising an interior volume configured to contain a liquid; an orifice in fluid communication with the interior volume comprising a rim surrounding the orifice, wherein the rim is configured to form a seal, a removable adhesive connection, or a contact surface with a part of an animal body or a human body; a fluid input component configured to provide a liquid to the interior volume of the vessel; and a fluid output component configured to allow liquid to exit the interior volume of the vessel; and a composition of the type described herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts a schematic example of a hemostatic device.

FIG. 2A depicts another schematic example of a hemostatic device.

FIG. 2B depicts another schematic example of a hemostatic device.

FIG. 3 depicts another schematic example of a hemostatic device.

FIG. 4 depicts another schematic example of a hemostatic device.

FIG. 5 is an expanded view of a portion of the example of a hemostatic device of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6A depicts an example of a system which may be used in applications such as surgery.

FIG. 6B depicts another example of a system which may be used in applications such as surgery.

FIG. 7 depicts an example of a hemostatic device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As used herein, the term “hemostatic composition” is used in accordance with the ordinary meaning in the art and includes a blood-clotting agent, a blood-clotting composition, a hemostatic composition, a hemostatic agent, or a similar material. A hemostatic composition may comprise a clay or a component of a clay which may be dispersed in a liquid medium.

A liquid medium may include any liquid, including an aqueous liquid. In some embodiments, the liquid medium may contain at least: about 10%, about 50%, or about 90% water by weight. Other liquids, including organic liquids, may be used. For example, alcohols such as glycerin, ethanol, methanol, isopropanol, and the like, may also be used. A combination of non-aqueous liquids or a combination of water and other liquids may also be used. In some embodiments, tap water, saline water, distilled water, or sterile water may be used.

A clay may include any clay such as kaolin, bentonite, montmorillonite, saponite, polygorskite or attapulgite, sepiolite, etc. In some embodiments, the clay may be a kaolin clay, which may include the mineral “kaolinite.” The kaolin may include Edgar's plastic kaolin (hereinafter “EPK”), which is a water-washed kaolin clay that is mined and processed around Edgar, Fla.

A hemostatic composition may be prepared by adding an appropriate amount of clay to a liquid. This mixture may be used with these constituents by themselves and/or without further treatment or processing (besides possibly sterilization). In some embodiments, the mixture may be subjected to a separation process which may produce a separation of the clay into components or may provide clay particles in particular ranges of sizes. Thus, in some embodiments, one or more components or particular size ranges of clay may be used in addition to or in place of a native or standard type of clay. The component or particular size range of clay may be obtained by a separation process or may be separately obtained and added to a liquid. As used herein, unless otherwise indicated, the term “clay” should be understood to include clay, a component of clay, or a combination thereof.

In some embodiments, a first component of a clay may be separated from a second component of a clay. One or more separation processes may further provide additional components of the clay, such as a third component, a fourth component, etc. An example of a method that may be used to accomplish a separation may be dispersing a clay in a liquid, and then separating the dispersion by filtration or using one or more settling methods such as centrifugation or standing.

A separation may produce a first component which is distinct from other components in some way. Some separations involve separating a fraction which has more liquid from a fraction which has more solid, as compared to the composition before the separation is carried out. A liquid fraction may include a supernatant, or the liquid portion removed from the top of a centrifuged mixture, or a filtrate, or the liquid which is passed through a filter during a filtration. A solid fraction may include the sediment or solid material from a centrifugation or the filtered solid material obtained by filtration. In some embodiments, a first component of a clay is separated from a second component of a clay by centrifuge or filtration.

In some embodiments, a first component may consist essentially of or include higher levels of ions of calcium (e.g. Ca⁺, Ca²⁺, etc.), aluminum (e.g. Al⁺, Al²⁺, Al³⁺, etc.), iron (e.g. Fe⁺, Fe²⁺, Fe³⁺, etc.) magnesium (e.g. Mg⁺, Mg²⁺, etc.), potassium (e.g. K⁺), sodium (e.g. Na⁺), or other ions. If the first component comprises a liquid fraction, this may be because the ions are soluble in the liquid, and thus retained with the liquid fraction. For example, the molar ratio of one or more of these ions in a first component as compared to a second component may be at least about 1.1, about 2, or about 5 to about 10, about 100, or about 1000. Ions such as those listed above may also be added directly to the composition.

In some embodiments, a first component may have an average particle size which is smaller than the average particle size of a second component or another component of the clay.

While a clay may be present in any amount, a clay may be at least: about 0.00001%, about 0.001%, or about 0.01% by weight of the composition, and/or may further be about 10% or less, about 5% or less, or about 1% or less by weight of the composition. In some embodiments, a hemostatic composition may include clay particles of a size that renders the composition substantially free of visible clay particles to an observer with an unaided eye. In some embodiments, the turbidity of the composition may be at least: about 0.001 Nephelometric Turbitidy Units (NTU), about 0.01 NTU, or about 0.3 NTU, and/or may further be about 5 or less, about 50 or less, or about 200 or less. In some embodiments, the clay may be dispersed in a liquid to provide a stable clay-liquid dispersion, such as a stable clay-water dispersion or kaolin-water dispersion. In some embodiments, an appreciable amount of the clay particles may not settle from an aqueous liquid upon standing. In some embodiments, the clay particles may not settle from an aqueous liquid upon standing for at least about 5 minutes, at least about 1 hour, at least about 12 hours, at least about 1 day, at least about 1 month, or at least about 1 year. In some embodiments, the clay particles may be capable of remaining dispersed in an aqueous liquid for at least about 1 minute, at least about 5 minutes, at least about 30 minutes, or at least about an hour in a centrifuge at a centripetal acceleration of at least about 100 m/s, at least about 1000 m/s, or at least about 10,000 m/s.

A clay may have a particle size in a range that allows it to be dispersed in the liquid. For example, in some embodiments, at least about 50%, at least about 90%, or at least about 95% of a clay, such as kaolin, may have a particle size in the range of about 1 nm to about 10 μm, about 10 nm to about 5 μm, or about 50 nm to about 5 μm. In some embodiments, a fine clay may be used which has a reduced particle size as compared to a particle size of a naturally and/or commonly occurring clay. In some embodiments, the fine clay may be fine kaolin.

Tonicity agents may be included or omitted in a hemostatic composition to adjust tonicity, for example, to make the composition isotonic, hypertonic, or hypotonic. Tonicity may be adjusted by adjusting the concentration of a tonicity agent. For example, reducing the concentration of a tonicity agent may reduce the tonicity of the composition, and increasing the concentration of a tonicity agent may increase the tonicity of the composition. Suitable tonicity agents include, but are not limited to, sugars, such as glucose and isomers thereof, dextrose, fructose and isomers thereof, disaccharides, etc.; alkali salts (e.g. Group I salts), such as salts of Na⁺, K⁺, etc.; halide salts, such as salts of Cl⁻, Br⁻, I⁻, etc.; polyols such as glycerin and other sugar alcohols such as mannitol, sorbitol, etc.; etc.

A hemostatic composition may be sterile or sterilized. An antimicrobial agent may be included in some embodiments, which may help to preserve the sterility of a composition over time, or may help to improve or preserve the sterility of the bleeding area while a hemostatic composition is used to promote clotting of a wound. Suitable anti-microbial agents may include, but are not limited to, compounds or salts containing silver ions; compounds or salts containing copper ions; and halogen-based antimocrobials such as iodine, bromine, and chlorine, and salts or oxides thereof, such as ClO⁻, BrO⁻, IO⁻, etc. In some embodiments, the antimicrobial agent may comprise a stabilized halogen or halogen containing salt. One example of an antimicrobial agent includes povidone (also known as polyvinylpyrrolidone) and/or iodine, such as a 10% povidone iodine solution.

A hemostatic composition may comprise a therapeutically active agent. Examples of therapeutically active agents may include, but are not limited to, analgesics, including but not limited to, opiates such as codeine, morphine, oxycodone, etc.; acetaminophen; anti-inflammatory agents, including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, aspirin, etc.; antibiotics or another antimicrobial drugs or compounds; antihistamines (e.g., cimetidine, chloropheniramine maleate, diphenhydramine hydrochloride, and promethazine hydrochloride); antifungal agents; ascorbic acid; tranexamic acid; rutin; thrombin; botanical agents; etc.; and combinations thereof. Other additives may include magnesium sulfate, sodium metaphosphate, calcium chloride, dextrin, and combinations thereof.

A hemostatic agent may be in any form, such as a liquid, a gel, a paste, a foam, a cream, a particle, a powder, or other form. In some embodiments, a hemostatic composition may be flowable. For example, a hemostatic composition may have a viscosity from at least: about 0.1 cP, about 0.2 cP, about 0.5 cP, about 1 cP; and/or less than or equal to: about 1000 cP, about 10,000 cP, or about 100,000 cP. The viscosity may vary according to the type of injury or situation in which the composition is used and/or the form of the composition. For example, in some embodiments, a liquid with a viscosity similar to water, such as a viscosity at or below about 1000 cP, about 100 cP, or about 10 cP, may be desired for surgical applications. In some situations, such as in treating a wound formed by a bullet or another type of penetrating wound, a form of composition that is thicker or more viscous than water may be used, such as a gel or foam, to allow the composition to generally plug up or generally fill or generally obstruct or generally impede communication between the internal injured area and the area outside of the body to diminish the egress of blood from the wound and the ingress of contaminants into the wound. The composition may, in some instances, have much higher viscosities, such as at least: about 1000 cP, about 10,000 cP, or about 50,000 cP; and/or less than or equal to: about 100,000 cP, about 150,000 cP, or about 250,000 cP.

For some forms of thicker or more viscous compositions, such as gels, pastes, foams, or other forms, a thickening agent, such as a gelling agent, may be added to increase the viscosity of the liquid. The thickening agent may also help to keep a hemostatic agent such as a clay from settling from the dispersion. Any thickening agent may be used, including, but not limited to, cellulose derivatives such as carboxymethylcellulose, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, methylcellulose, hydroxypropylcellulose, etc.; other carbohydrates or polysaccharides, or derivatives thereof, such as dextrans, starches, starch derivatives, carrageenan, guar gum, gum karaya, xanthan gum, gum arabic, gum tragacanth, etc.; polycarboxylic acids such as polyacrylic acid, polymethacrylic acid, etc.; fatty acids such as myristic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, arachidic acid, and behenic acid, palmitoleic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, α-linolenic acid, γ-linolenic acid, arachidonic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid, etc.; polyalkylene glycol polymers or copolymers such as polyethylene glycol, polyethylene glycol-polypropylene glycol copolymers, etc.

A hemostatic composition may also contain cations such as calcium (e.g. Ca⁺, Ca²⁺, etc.), aluminum (e.g. Al⁺, Al²⁺, Al³⁺, etc.), iron (e.g. Fe⁺, Fe²⁺, Fe³⁺, etc.) magnesium (e.g. Mg⁺, Mg²⁺, etc.), potassium (e.g. K⁺), sodium (e.g. Na⁺), silver, etc.

A hemostatic composition may be applied to any bleeding area of an animal or human being. Examples of injuries which may involve bleeding which could be treated with a hemostatic composition include, but are not limited to, injuries related to surgery, injuries caused by a weapon such as a bullet, a blade such as a knife, sword or bayonet, an explosive weapon, etc.

In some situations, such as in treating an injury characterized by a generally long, generally tube-shaped bleeding hole (e.g., a bullet track or an injury caused by a biopsy), treatment may be accomplished by applying slightly more pressure to the infused hemostatic liquid than that of the exiting blood to position the hemostatic material at a suitable location within or proximate to the injury to assist in diminishing or halting bleeding. For example, the pressure may be at least: about 180 mmHg, about 200 mmHg, about 250, about 300 mmHg; and/or less than or equal to: about 500 mmHg, about 700 mmHg, or about 1000 mmHg. In some embodiments, the pressure may be about 300 mmHg.

The term “vessel” is used herein in accordance with its ordinary meaning in the art and includes any structure which is capable of holding a hemostatic composition and being in fluid communication with a dispensing component. Examples may include, but are not limited to, containers such as bottles, vials, canisters, tubes, reservoirs, etc., and materials which may hold the composition such as a sponge, a cloth, a gauze, etc. A dispensing component may be any feature which is capable of being in fluid communication with a vessel and dispensing a hemostatic composition from the vessel to a bleeding area of an animal or person. Examples may include, but are not limited to, valves, lumens, orifices, pumps, sponges, cloths, etc. In some embodiments, a hemostatic device may comprise an absorbent material, such as a sponge, cloth, gauze, etc., wherein a liquid hemostatic composition is absorbed therein. The absorbent material may be saturated, meaning that the material cannot absorb any more liquid, or it may contain a liquid hemostatic composition but not be saturated. These devices may be further packaged in a film or other sealing material to reduce evaporation or other loss of the liquid.

A hemostatic composition may be dispensed by and/or incorporated into a hemostatic device. FIG. 1 depicts a schematic example of an embodiment of a hemostatic device 110 which may comprise a vessel 120 which contains a hemostatic composition 130 and a dispensing component 140 in fluid communication with the vessel 120. In this example, the device is configured so that the dispensing component is capable of dispensing the hemostatic composition from the vessel to a bleeding area of an animal or person.

FIG. 2A depicts another example of an embodiment of a hemostatic device 210. In this example, the vessel 220 may have a handle shape and may contain a liquid hemostatic composition 230. The vessel 220 may be connected to a dispensing component 240 comprising an absorbent material such as a sponge, which may be applied directly to the bleeding area.

FIG. 2B depicts yet another example of an embodiment of a hemostatic device 215. In this example, the vessel 225 may comprise a cylinder and may contain a liquid hemostatic composition 230. The vessel 225 may be connected to a dispensing component 240 comprising an absorbent material such as a sponge, which may be applied directly to the bleeding area.

FIG. 3 depicts another example of an embodiment of a hemostatic device 310. In this example, a vessel and/or a dispensing component can comprise a syringe 320. In some embodiments, the vessel and/or dispensing component can be in fluid communication with a spray-producing component 340. In some embodiments, the dispensing component is a spray-producing component 340. The spray-producing component 340 may be capable of dispensing the hemostatic composition in a form comprising a spray. The syringe 320 may further comprise a reservoir cylinder 350 which may contain a liquid hemostatic composition 330 and which may be in fluid communication with the spray producing component 340. A plunger 360 may be slidably disposed within the reservoir cylinder 350. A user may apply force to the plunger 360 in the direction 370 of the spray producing component 340 so as to apply pressure to the liquid hemostatic composition 330 in the reservoir cylinder 350, thus, forcing the liquid hemostatic composition 330 through the spray producing component 340 to produce a spray of the liquid hemostatic composition 330.

FIGS. 4-5 depicts another example of an embodiment of a hemostatic device 410. In this example, the dispensing component may comprise a foam or spray producing component (referred to hereinafter as “spray component”) 440. The spray component 440 may be capable of dispensing the hemostatic composition in a form comprising a foam or spray. The device may further comprise a propellant gas 450, which may fill the headspace 460 above the liquid hemostatic composition 430 and be dissolved in the liquid 430 so that when the spray component 440 is opened, the pressure difference may cause foam or spray to be dispensed. The propellant gas dissolved in the liquid may provide foam or spray as the dissolved gas expands under the reduced pressure. Inert gases, such as nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and fluorocarbons, may be useful as propellants.

As shown in FIG. 4, the spray component 440 may comprise a closed tube 470, which may be closed at the top 475 and partially submerged below the surface of the liquid hemostatic composition 430. The spray component may further comprise a cap 445, which may be movably connected to the tube 470.

FIG. 5 depicts an expanded view of parts of the spray component 440 which may allow the spray component to be opened so that the liquid hemostatic composition 430 may be dispensed. The tube 470 may comprise an orifice 510, and may be movably connected to a bottom platform 530 of the cap 445. The tube 470 may be further coupled to a spring 520 which may abut and may be supported by the bottom platform 530 of the cap 445. When the spring 520 and tube 470 are in a relaxed position, the orifice 510 may be located just above a channel 540 in the cap 445. The channel may be in fluid communication with an exit port 550, which may be in fluid communication with the outside of the device. When a user pushes the tube 470 downward, the orifice 510 may become coupled to the channel 540 to open fluid communication between the tube 470 and the channel 540 so that the pressure from the propellant gas may force the liquid hemostatic composition 430 out of the exit port 550. When the liquid hemostatic composition 430 has been dispensed, the user may release the force on the tube 470 so that the spring 520 may return the tube 470 to the relaxed position.

A hemostatic composition may be incorporated into other systems or methods in many different types of various applications, such as surgery. These methods or systems may comprise a hemostatic composition in liquid form (or a “hemostatic liquid”) and a liquid provision component configured to provide the hemostatic liquid to an area of a human being or animal affected by a surgical procedure, such as an area that is bleeding as a result of a surgical procedure. The liquid provision component may be any structure, component, or device which is capable of providing the hemostatic liquid to the area affected by a surgical procedure (e.g., through irrigation). For example, the hemostatic liquid may be provided during surgery, while surgery is being completed, after surgery is completed, etc. Examples may include, but are not limited to, surgical tubing with a hand piece comprising a valved dispensing portion to permit selective dispensing or irrigation. A system or method may further comprise a liquid-removal component configured to remove liquids, such as the hemostatic liquid, blood, or other liquids, from the area of the human being or animal affected by the surgical procedure (e.g., through aspiration). The liquid-removal component may be any structure, component, or device which is capable of removing liquid from the area affected by a surgical procedure. Examples may include, but are not limited to, tubing, such as surgical tubing. The liquid removal component may further be configured to remove the hemostatic liquid while the surgery is taking place, as surgery is being completed, after surgery is completed, etc. The liquid-delivery and liquid-removal components can be included together on a single hand piece or can be provided separately. An actuator positioned on the hand piece or surgical tubing can activate either or both of the irrigation and aspiration features, or toggle between them.

FIG. 6A is a schematic of an example of a system which may be used in applications such as surgery. In this example, a vessel 620 may be in fluid communication with an optional pump 610. The pump 610 may in turn be in fluid communication with a first surgical tube 640, so that the pump 610 delivers the liquid hemostatic composition 630 through the first surgical tube 640 to provide hemostasis at the wound site and to deliver a hemostatic composition to a patient 650 who is undergoing surgery. In this example, a second surgical tube 660 may also be provided through which spent liquid hemostatic composition and other liquids may be released into a waste receptacle 670. In some circumstances, the pump may be omitted and circulation of the liquid hemostatic composition may be accomplished by other means. For example, the vessel 620 may be placed in a higher vertical position than the patient 650, and the waste receptacle 670 may be placed in a lower vertical position than the patient so that gravity drives the circulation.

FIG. 6B is a schematic of another example of a system which may be used in applications such as surgery. In this example, a vessel 695 may comprise a foam or spray producing component similar to spray component 440 illustrated in FIGS. 4-5. Vessel 695 may be used to manually or periodically deliver a liquid spray or foam of the hemostatic composition to a wound or opening 690 in a patient 650 who is undergoing surgery. In this example, a second surgical tube 660 may also be provided through which spent liquid hemostatic composition and other liquids may be released into a waste receptacle 670. In some circumstances, the waste receptacle 670 may be placed in a lower vertical position than the patient so that gravity drives the circulation. Alternatively, suction may be applied through tube 660 to remove spent liquid hemostatic composition.

In some embodiments, a hemostatic system may comprise a hemostatic device that may comprise a vessel and a hemostatic composition. The vessel may be any vessel which is configured to contain a liquid. This vessel may further comprise an interior volume configured to contain a liquid, and an orifice in fluid communication with the interior volume comprising a rim surrounding the orifice, wherein the rim is configured to generally provide contact with or to generally form a seal with a part of an animal body or a human body.

A rim may be a rim similar to a rim of a cup or a glass, or it may simply be formed by a hole on an external surface of the vessel. It may be even with an external surface of the vessel or may be raised with respect to the surface of the vessel. In some embodiments, the rim may be flexible or resilient. A seal may be formed by causing the rim to be pressed against the body part and/or by disposing an adhesive material on the rim so that a seal is formed by temporary adhesion between the rim and the body part.

A vessel may further comprise a fluid input component configured to provide a liquid to an interior volume of the vessel. The fluid input component may be any structural feature or combination of features which may provide a liquid to an interior volume of a vessel, such as an orifice or a valve.

A vessel may further comprise a fluid output component configured to allow liquid to exit from the vessel. The fluid output component may be any structural feature or combination of features which may allow liquid to exit from the vessel, such as an orifice or a valve.

FIG. 7 depicts an example of a hemostatic device 700 that may be applied to a bleeding area, open wound, or a surgical opening in the body. This example may have an inverted vessel 705 having a closed top 710 and an open bottom 720 having a rim 740. The bottom 720 may be placed on a surface 725 of an injured person or patient so that the rim 740 is generally proximate to and/or generally surrounds the injury or opening 750. Pressure 760 may be applied to the device so that the rim 740 and the surface 725 form a seal that generally obstructs or prevents liquid from escaping. In some embodiments, an adhesive material (not shown) may be disposed on the rim 740 so that a seal is formed between the rim 740 and the surface 725. A hemostatic composition 730 may be circulated by an inlet 770 through which the hemostatic composition 730 may enter the device and an outlet 780 through which the hemostatic composition 730 and other fluid may exit the device 700.

EXAMPLE 1

Kaolin (about 0.34 g) and glycerin (about 0.91 g) are mixed with sterile, distilled, non pyrogenic, pH 7.0 water (about 42 mL). The mixture appears cloudy or turbid.

EXAMPLE 2

The mixture of Example 1 is centrifuged for about 5 minutes at about 3000 rpm. The supernatant is carefully collected and the precipitate is discarded to yield a liquid hemostatic composition which appears substantially clearer.

EXAMPLE 3

The composition of Example 2 (about 3 mL) is combined with 10% povidone iodine (about 3 mL).

EXAMPLE 4

The composition of Example 2 (about 6 mL) is combined with 10% povidone iodine (about 3 mL).

EXAMPLE 5

The compositions prepared as described in Examples 1-3, and water were tested for clotting. The test was carried out by combining 0.5 ml of the hemostatic composition with 1 ml of citrated sheep blood and 150 μL of CaCl₂ in a test tube.

The clotting times for the four samples are shown in Table 1 below.

TABLE 1 Clotting Time Composition (Min:Sec) Example 1 1:30 Example 2 1:45 Example 3 2:45 Example 4 2:30 Water 6:30

Although the embodiments have been described in the context of certain examples, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the scope of the claims may extend beyond the specifically disclosed embodiments to other embodiments including embodiments formed of combinations of features disclosed herein and equivalents thereof. 

The following is claimed:
 1. A blood-clotting agent comprising: a composition comprising clay dispersed in a liquid medium, wherein the clay is less than about 10% by weight of the composition; and wherein the composition including the liquid medium and clay has a viscosity of about 1000 cP or less.
 2. The blood-clotting agent of claim 1, wherein the composition including the liquid medium and clay has a viscosity of about 1000 cP to about 100,000 cP.
 3. The hemostatic composition of claim 1, wherein an appreciable amount of the clay particles does not settle from the liquid upon standing for at least about 12 hours.
 4. The hemostatic composition of claim 1, wherein the clay comprises kaolin.
 5. The hemostatic composition of claim 4, wherein at least 50% of the kaolin has a particle size in the range of about 1 nm to about 1000 nm.
 6. A hemostatic composition comprising: a clay dispersed in an aqueous medium; wherein the composition is a liquid which is substantially free of visible clay particles; and wherein the composition is sterilized.
 7. The composition of claim 6, wherein the clay is kaolin; wherein the composition is flowable; wherein at least 50% of the kaolin has a particle size in the range of about 1 nm to about 1000 nm; and wherein the composition is sterilized.
 8. The composition of claim 6, having a viscosity in the range of about 0.1 cP to about 100,000 cP.
 9. The composition of claim 6, having a viscosity in the range of about 0.2 cP to about 1000 cP.
 10. The composition of claim 6, wherein the composition is isotonic.
 11. The composition of claim 6, wherein the aqueous medium further comprises a sugar, an alkali salt, a halide salt, or glycerin.
 12. The composition of claim 6, wherein the aqueous medium further comprises an antimicrobial agent.
 13. A method of promoting blood clotting comprising exposing a bleeding area of an animal or human being to the blood-clotting agent of claim 1 or the hemostatic composition of claim
 6. 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the bleeding area is exposed to the hemostatic composition during a surgical procedure or because of an injury caused by a weapon or because of an injury caused by a bullet.
 15. A hemostatic device comprising: a vessel which contains a hemostatic composition, wherein the hemostatic composition comprises a clay dispersed in an aqueous medium; wherein the composition is a liquid which is substantially free of visible clay particles; and wherein the composition is sterilized; and a dispensing component in fluid communication with the vessel; wherein the device is configured so that the dispensing component is capable of dispensing the hemostatic composition from the vessel to a bleeding area of an animal or person.
 16. The device of claim 15, wherein the dispensing component comprises a spray producing component; wherein the device is configured so that the dispensing component is capable of dispensing the hemostatic composition from the vessel to a bleeding area of an animal or person in a form comprising a spray.
 17. The device of claim 15, wherein the dispensing component comprises a foam producing component; wherein the device is configured so that the dispensing component is capable of dispensing the hemostatic composition from the vessel to a bleeding area of an animal or a person in a form comprising a foam.
 18. A hemostatic composition comprising: a liquid comprising a first component of a kaolin, wherein the first component of the kaolin is prepared by a process comprising: dispersing the kaolin in an aqueous medium; and separating the first component of the kaolin from a second component of the kaolin; wherein first component of the kaolin has an average particle size which is smaller than an average particle size of the second component of kaolin.
 19. The composition of claim 18, wherein the first component of the kaolin is separated from the second component of the kaolin by centrifuge.
 20. The composition of claim 18, wherein the first component of the kaolin is separated from the second component of the kaolin by filtration.
 21. The composition of claim 18, wherein the first component of kaolin is capable of remaining dispersed in the aqueous medium for at least about 60 minutes without agitation.
 22. The composition of claim 18, wherein the first component of kaolin is capable of remaining dispersed in the aqueous medium for at least about 5 minutes in a centrifuge at a centripetal acceleration of at least about 1000 m/s².
 23. The composition of claim 18, wherein the kaolin comprises a fine kaolin having a reduced particle size as compared to a particle size of a naturally and commonly occurring kaolin.
 24. A hemostatic system comprising: a hemostatic device comprising: a vessel comprising an interior volume configured to contain a liquid; an orifice in fluid communication with the interior volume comprising a rim surrounding the orifice, wherein the rim is configured to form a seal with a part of an animal body or a human body; a fluid input component configured to provide a liquid to the interior volume of the vessel; and a fluid output component configured to allow liquid to exit the interior volume of the vessel; and a composition a hemostatic composition, wherein the hemostatic composition comprises a clay dispersed in an aqueous medium; wherein the composition is a liquid which is substantially free of visible clay particles; and wherein the composition is sterilized. 